NLIS 3 July 5, 2002 (Environment) Tidy Towns of Newfoundland and
Labrador receives Waste Management Trust Fund Kevin Aylward, Minister of Environment, and Gordon Seabright, chairman of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB), are pleased to announce a grant of $58,100 under the Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund to Tidy Towns of Newfoundland and Labrador. Over the next several months, Tidy Towns 2002 Public Education and Community Competition will offer three regional workshops. Volunteer judges will visit and assess approximately 80 communities all over Newfoundland and Labrador. Topics of discussion will include waste management, recycling, composting, litter control and community involvement. The objective is for communities to increase their capabilities in waste management, community enhancement and litter control initiatives. Since the Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund was established in 1999, government has approved 246 applications and approximately $6.3 million in contributions. This funding has been disbursed to 280 schools, more than 150 municipalities, 35 environmental and community groups, and several businesses and school districts. "We all have a role to play in waste management. While government is responsible for implementing a provincial waste management strategy and for setting standards, guidelines and policies, it is the people who ultimately implement modern waste management by changing attitudes and behaviours towards the handling of solid waste. When communities, local organizations and volunteers participate everyone benefits," said Minister Aylward. "I am pleased with the success of the trust fund initiative. The implementation of these projects has helped clean up our communities, educate the public, and divert waste from our landfills," said Gordon Seabright. "As the province moves forward with the provincial waste management strategy, MMSB will continue to meet its mandate of working with the Department of Environment and other stakeholders to develop and implement new waste diversion programs for the province." Randy Simms, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities applauds Tidy Towns initiative and appreciates government�s continuing support of this program. "We look forward to our many communities participating in Tidy Towns� program this summer," said Mr. Simms. For information on MMSB and the Waste
Management Trust Fund Media contact: Cynthia Layden Barron, Department of Environment, (709) 729-2575. 2002 07 05 11:20 a.m. |
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